The Chase

It has been so long, and frankly way overdue. But God has His very unique way of getting our attention. He has been nudging me to write again. Those nudges came in the form of complete strangers, friends and unemployment. I journal daily as my method of playing it safe. As if saying, "See, I'm being obedient. I'm writing." When, if I stood back and reflect, half obedience is still disobedience. Because if we asked our kids to take out the trash and cut the grass, and only the trash was emptied. What parent wouldn't have something to say about the yard work not being completed? Ha! So here goes my obedience, I do not know where it will lead but I do trust the One prompting me to get to it...

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it." - Luke 15:4

Jesus: the Good Shepherd
I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me...John 10


I don't know why when I read these verses and chapter in John I link them. I automatically envision a cartoon in my head. Maybe it is God's word coming alive to me or my love of cartoons as a kid on an early Saturday morning. Whatever the reason, I get a visual of the one sheep wandering off thinking he knows the best route to get what he wants and needs. The sheep separates from the flock en route to the refreshing brook but The Good Shepherd knows it will not quench his thirst. The brook that appears attractive due to its convenience is actually filled with murky water. And thus, the chase begins. The Good Shepherd chases that one sheep running downhill. However, you can't hide from Him (The Good Shepherd). In fact, you can not out run Him either. He slides down that hill to get there faster than His sheep. Who by the way, recognizes The Good Shepherd's voice because he belongs to Him. After the one sheep drinks from the brook, he realizes the water no longer shimmered. It was only the light from the sun. He remembers hearing the voice of The Good Shepherd shouting, "Look up to the hills little sheep, where does your help come from?" When the one sheep looks up, his eyes are fixed upon The Good Shepherd. There he takes the one sheep and cares for him. Gives him living water as they enjoy the journey of walking back together up the hill where they use to be before he became lost, distracted, misguided or carried away by his desires. The flock of other sheep are waiting there on the hill. Those sheep gathered on the hill waiting for The Good Shepherd, well...they are the welcoming committee for the lost sheep to be embraced in love as he rejoins the flock. 😊 The way it unfolds in my head makes me wish I could create a short animation like those that play before a movie at the theater. For now, this written account will have to do.

Growin a Garden

I spent many afternoons working in my grandmother's flower beds. She had a green thumb. So when my darling Sky wanted to plant a garden, I was hesistant. I immediately thought of my grandmother's vast array of colors and plants. To me that mental picture was my goal. I have to admit I doubted myself. Still, my princess and I set out to purchase soil, seeds and gardening tools. I was somewhat concerned due to lack of rain in our area but we went full speed ahead with the idea.

Skylar planted an assortment of summer zinnia and sweet pea. I chose to plant cucumbers and hope to get a vally lime tree (found near Corpus Christi, TX). The tree is for fall but I hope to enjoy the cucumbers now. She wanted a watermelon patch but I talked her out of it.

I am so glad I agreed to follow through. I learned some amazing things about the seed growing process. It has helped me during this season of my life. It reminded me when Jesus taught that His kingdom was alot like growing a garden. We start our garden with a seed, and through the growth process, we obtain the harvest.

The Parable of the Growing Seed

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”


There are nine steps from planting to harvest.


1) A seed; our garden begins when the seed is planted in fertile soil.


2) The seed then divides itself and sends root downward, and a shoot upward.


3) A leaf breaks through the surface and conforms itself in every way to its parent plant.


4) It struggles to survive and conquer drought, heat, insects-


5) and if it prevails, it goes to work producing blooms, buds, etc.


6) Thus seed blooms to produce other seed; to replicate itself.


7) After the fruit or seed forms, it completely ripens.


8) Finally, the husk, shell , or peeling is put off.


9) And the fruit is harvested.



The number of each step also means the same as the words in bold. I was blown away by that but that is a whole other subject.


Here is a photo of growing our garden at 2 weeks.

Romans 12:12

The past 356 days bring Romans 12:12 to life in such vivid color.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NIV)

I always liked this verse but now I know this verse. Pain/affliction is the never the gift we would choose, we don't even see it as a gift or blessing. However, God uses it as His tool to bring about His desire. For everything the Lord allows in our lives, there is a purpose.

God allows:

Tests become our TESTIMONY.
Adversity becomes our ADVANTAGE.
A season of Less becomes our LESSON.
Tragedy becomes our TRIUMPH.
Mess becomes our ANOINTED MESSAGE.

All of God's people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them. ~Oswald Chambers

Pressing through the trial and praising Him in the storm. The battle belongs to Him and through His son Jesus we are victorious...

I rest confident in the One who gave the promise as I go through the process because I am learning that in the middle of the mess we find our miracle...(to be continued).